AI flight to bring back Indians

Protesters throw firebombs at riot police after police shot at protesters accompanying the funeral procession of an anti-government protester killed yesterday, in a street near Tahrir square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Thousands of protesters returned to Cairo's central Tahrir Square, chanting slogans against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and demanding his departure. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is maintaining a close contact with Indian Ambassador in Egypt R. Swaminathan in connection with the developments in that country and to provide assistance to the Indians there.

An Air India aircraft has been sent to Cairo to ensure the safe return of Indians. It will take off from Cairo at 9 p.m. (local time) with 300 people and will arrive in India at 6 a.m. on Monday.

The External Affairs Ministry is working in close coordination with the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this regard.

Mr. Krishna told The Hindu here, “I am in continuous contact with the Indian authorities in Egypt. The special flight will depart from Egypt early on Monday and will carry around 300 Indians. The second flight will leave later in the day and carry around 200 passengers, with nearly 150 of them serving in the IT sector. A close rapport is being maintained with the members of the Indian community and all help is being rendered.”